Tactics · Learn
Under-Promotion
Usually you promote to a queen: but sometimes a knight, rook, or bishop is stronger. A knight promotion can come with a fork or a check a queen can't give; a rook or bishop can dodge a stalemate that a queen would cause.
How to spot it: when queening allows a check, a stalemate, or misses a fork, ask whether a different piece does the job. The classic case: promote to a knight with check, winning a piece the new queen couldn't touch.
How to spot it: when queening allows a check, a stalemate, or misses a fork, ask whether a different piece does the job. The classic case: promote to a knight with check, winning a piece the new queen couldn't touch.
Now spot it yourself
A real position: find the move. This is exactly what the drills in the app do, banded from beginner to expert.
How this lesson is made: this public explanation comes from the authored Strong Squares curriculum. Automated checks protect its chess data, source fields and learning flow. Independent chess-editor approval remains part of the private-preview release process. Read the teaching method.